Romance of the Cup? I’d love to fix the draw with prize-winning storylines and a Hollywood ending

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IT WAS, by common consent, the weekend that the FA Cup rediscovered its mission and was restored to glory. Scunthorpe United led Chelsea for a while, Stoke City led Arsenal, Yeading made Newcastle United look amusingly incompetent, even in victory. Oldham Athletic got rid of Manchester City and Sheffield United dumped out Aston Villa. West Ham United beat Norwich City, Sunderland beat Crystal Palace.

Most hilariously, most thigh-slappingly, non-league Exeter City rose above the demeaning insult delivered to them by Sir Alex Ferguson’s low-watt team selection and managed a comely 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.